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How to paint a flower field: part 2

Learn how to paint a flower field in watercolour with artist Fábio Cembranelli

7 TAKE A STEP BACK At this point, I need to stop for a couple of minutes to safely move on to my next step: masking fluid removal. If I don’t remove my masking fluid at this stage I will have too many hard edges. I want to be able to soften the edges and blend them with my background colours.

8 REMOVE THE MASK After 30 minutes (depending on local temperatures), I wash and dry my hands and rub off the masking fluid by using circular movements with my finger on the surface of the paper. Take note: you must ensure the masking has dried. If it’s not completely dry and you start removing it, your watercolour paper will be damaged.

9 SMOOTH OUT THE EDGES Using a flat synthetic brush (3/4”) I begin softening edges. I use a stiff brush and water to blend and soften hard edges; no pigment is necessary at this point. If I don’t soften a few hard edges with the use of masking fluid, I will have too many white lines, dots and shapes which will attract the viewer’s eye more than I really want.

10 FOCUS ON THE FOREGROUND Using a tiny flat brush (2) I introduce details to the foreground. I want to show a few flowers, painting petals and leaves with Quinacridone Magenta, Alizarin Crimson and Opera Rose for the flowers and a mix of Green Gold and Viridian Green for all greens.

11 BRANCH OUT Now it’s time to work with a few lines. Branches are made with a rigger brush (2). Close, dark branches are painted with Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine Violet. Lighter and more distant branches are painted with Translucent Orange and French Ultramarine. All lines must be placed in the right spot: dark and thick lines in the foreground, light and thin lines in the background.

12 GET A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE Using a flat brush (3/4”) I add a few more lines to my composition. I lift out some pigment using a thirsty brush so I can suggest a few lines within the background. These are negative shapes against a dark background and will add intrigue and variety to my composition.

13 USE YOUR SPLATTERTECHNIQUE NOW My watercolour is almost finished. I splatter some red dots with a toothbrush to create tiny and undefined flowers, then clean my toothbrush and splatter a few green mixes too, just to balance the reds and greens. For reds I use Opera Rose and Quinacridone Magenta; my greens are made with Quinacridone Gold and Green Gold.

Fábio Cembranelli shares a watercolour painting guide in the Summer 2017 issue of Artists & Illustrators, out now – plus look out for his painting on the cover. Click here to get your copy or find it in all good newsagents.

This 'How to Guide' first featured in the June 2016 issue of Artists & Illustrators. Click here to find the latest magazines. Project by Fábio Cembranelli – www.fabiocembranelli.com

The Author

Artists & Illustrators is Britain’s most popular magazine for practising artists, whilst also being equally relevant to professionals, aspiring amateurs or to those who paint purely for pleasure. Full of step-by-step practical advice, readers’ own work, exclusive features on famous names and expert product tests, this is the top publication for every artist seeking inspiration, whether they favour painting, drawing or printmaking.